Worshipful Company of Mercers
The
Worshipful Company of Mercers is one of the
Livery Companies of the
City of London. It was incorporated under a
Royal Charter in
1394. Originally, its aim was to act as a trade association for general merchants, and especially for exporters of wool and importers of velvet, silk, and other luxurious fabrics. However, by the sixteenth century, many members of the Company did not retain connections with the original trade. Today, the Company exists as a charitable institution, supporting a wide variety of causes.
The Company is the premier Livery Company of the City; it ranks first in the order of precedence. It is thus one of the "Great Twelve City Livery Companies." The Company's motto is Honor Deo, Latin for Honour God